FREEDOM

FREEDOM

Everybody claims to want freedom, though few care to understand the nature of freedom. Some think freedom is not having another cabin in the same visual area. Some think freedom is not having someone telling you what to do. Some think freedom is being free to tell others  what your magic being demands of you. Some seek the freedom to abuse people whom they think should be subjects, some merely want the freedom to stand up against that which diminishes them.

In truth, freedom, like liberty, requires dedication to an other group of beings, so that you both can find other groups of beings to rid the world of that which wishes to oppress you. Because there is nowhere in the galaxy where there is not some being who wishes to be a Supreme being. For a while we came close. It was a good idea 250 years ago and still today. We may take pride in continuing to pursue those lofty ambitions, even as we fell on our faces thanks to poor leadership. And it worked, sorta, until we stumbled over the 21st Century time-line. Somebody kept a watch. Somebody pursued. Somebody wrote/podcasted about it, somebody wrote a comedy monologue, and the pressure was applied. And always in the shadows somebody is seeking a way to reinterpret the law to benefit the billionaire, and how much it will cost to purchase an effective audience. We never had this before in this "land of the free and home of the brave". People tried, but were stopped by those reporters who pursued, who kept a watch, who wrote/podcasted, who wrote a comedy monolog. 

They won this time. The people who claim to be for the people afraid of losing liberty have been able to weaken, or eliminate those people who made us free in the past; the reporters who watched, who pursued, who wrote/podcasted, who wrote the comedy monologs, are in the process of, or have disappeared. The time it will take to get back to where we were on Jan. 1, 2000, will be measured in lifetimes. Meanwhile, while this is going on, the world and all that that made us feel free, the prosperity of trade, the laws of the seas, laws of trade, laws limiting border conquests has been destabilized by the most incompetent people that have ever drawn a public paycheck. The reason competence is important to this paragraph is that competent people who fumble the metaphorical nuclear football, will find a solution. A solution acknowledging their failure while searching for a diplomatic solution that does not include that nuclear football going boom. Nobody of that status resides in an administration where the executive cannot be addressed. 

Meanwhile, the thing that makes us a democracy, which makes us free'er,  the free and 

un-obstructed vote, is also being attacked by these proponents of unlimited freedom for  the tiny few. Since the general election will become actively pursued after Labor Day, and the last few states are having their primaries this week, some things are beginning to emerge, and it is not good news for those who have been making it harder to hear any news that hasn't met the scrutiny of the autocrat. Big money is not winning big votes. Here in Marion County Democratic candidates spent roughly one third of campaign money that Republicans spent. This appears to be consistent with key states, including Texas and Michigan. The president's appeal, and the effect of his endorsements is underwater. Not just snorkeling underwater, far enough underwater to require SCUBA gear. Money is air in such times and the supplies of air are depleted. I, for one, will not be operating a bellows to help them.

Ronald Reagan once said something about the nine most frightening words in the English language being, " I'm from the government and I'm here to help you." The freedom-lovers who's freedom was bought with 9 mil's with extended magazines, did not seem to see the dis in that logic. They should have asked, what happens when you hear, "I'm from big business and I'm here to help you". How's that working out for you? Most of us have a quick, but well thought out answer. Those who haven't reached a similar conclusion can not be relied on for extending freedom to all of us people.